Uranium monophosphide

Uranium monophosphide is a compound of uranium and phosphorus, synthesized from heating metal uranium and white phosphorus:

4 U + P₄ → 4 UP

Uranium monophosphide

Identifiers
CAS Number	12037-69-3 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	103867623
PubChem CID	22899254
InChI InChI=1S/P.U Key: UTHMXILCQVBCDM-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES P#[U]
Properties
Chemical formula	UP
Molar mass	272.0625 g/mol
Density	10.23 g/cm3
Melting point	2,600 °C (4,710 °F; 2,870 K)
Structure
Crystal structure	Face-centered cubic
Lattice constant	a = 0.5578 nm
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

It is a potential nuclear fuel.

In air, a thin glassy surface layer protects the compound from oxidation; over the course of months after synthesis, this layer develops a metallic sheen.

Further reading

• Curry, N A (1966). "The magnetic structure of uranium monophosphide". Proceedings of the Physical Society. 89 (2): 427–429. Bibcode:1966PPS....89..427C. doi:10.1088/0370-1328/89/2/325.
• Sidhu, S.S.; Vogelsang, W.; Anderson, K.D. (1966). "The antiferromagnetism of uranium monophosphide". Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids. 27 (8): 1197. Bibcode:1966JPCS...27.1197S. doi:10.1016/0022-3697(66)90001-1.
• Assmann, Helmut; Stehle, Heinz (1981) [Mid-1979]. "Weitere Uranverbindungen als Kernbrennstoffe" [Other uranium compounds as nuclear fuels]. In Buschbeck, Karl-Christian; Keller, Cornelius (eds.). Handbuch der Anorganischen Chemie [Inorganic Chemistry Handbook]. Gmelin (in German). Vol. U: Uran (Suppl. A3) (8th ed.). Berlin: Springer. pp. 215–216. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-10275-6. ISBN 978-3-662-10276-3. LCCN 25-1383.